Automatic vehicle hitch-brake.



No. 664,I59. i Pateinlted Dec; I8, |900`v C. KITGHIN.

AUTOMATIC VEHICLE HITCH BRAKE.

(Applicaion med my s1, 1900.)

(No Model.)

A nom/E ys VNrTno STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES KI'IOHIN, OF ELWOOD, INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC VEHICLE HITCH-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,159, dated December18, 1900.

Application led May 31, 1900. Serial No. 1 8,539. (No model.)

T @ZZ whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES KITCHIN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Elwood, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana,have invented a new and Improved Automatic Vehicle Hitch-Brake, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of the invention is to provide an attachment to vehiclebrakes so constructed that when the brake is fully or partially appliedat the time a vehicle is to be left standing the driving-reins may beattached to the brake-lever or a separate construction and thebrake-beam be controlled automatically to such an extent that While theanimal is free to move backward and forward a limited distance in theshafts an undue forward or undue backward movement will result in theapplication of the brakeshoe or rollers to the wheels of the vehicle ina more positive manner, thus insuring that the horse and vehicle willremain where they are left standing and also providing for a properdisposition of the reins during such time.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the gures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle having the improvementapplied, one of the wheels being broken away to disclose thebrake-lever. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the members of the improvement,the aXle, wheels, and body of the vehicle being shown in dotted lines.Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the brake and the attachments thereto.Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail plan view of the clip adapted' to hold thereins, which clip is carried by the brake-lever or a separateconstruction; and Fig. 5 is a View, on a smaller scale, illustrating inside elevation the brakelever, the locking device therefor, theconnecting-bar attached to the brake-lever, and the device employed forholding the reins.

A represents a vehicle to which the improvement is applied, and B theshafts thereof. The brake-beam of the vehicle is suspended, as usual,between the front and the rear wheels, except when attached to the ve.

ends, constructed in any suitable or approved manner. The brakebeam 10is shown suspended and to be manually operated by a hanger O, comprisingside members 12 and 13, a top member 14, a crank-arm 15, formed in theupper member 14, and eyes 17, in which the brake shaft or beam 10 isfree to turn. The upper member 14 is removably attached to the body ofthe vehicle by staples 16 or equivalent devices.

One end of a connecting-rod 18 is pivotally attached to the crank-arm ofthe main hanger C, and the other end of this connecting-rod is pivotallyattached to a member 19 0f a brake-lever E, which member 19 is pivotedat its bottom to a rack 20 and maybe provided with suitable teeth 21,inclining in a rearward direction. The main sectionl23 of thebrake-lever is usually pivotally connected with the upper end of thesection 19,

or. the parts 23 and 19 may be one and the same, and when the brake isapplied through the medium of the said lever E the upper member 23 is ina vertical position, extending upward, as is likewise the member 19, asshown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and the member 19 of the lever may be heldin this position by a pawl 22, pivoted to the member 19 and engagingwith the teeth 21 of the rack 2O` or other device.

The upper or main member 23 of the brakelever E carries a rein-clip D,if not of separateconstruction. This reinclipisconstructed of a springmaterial bent upon itself to form, preferably, a bow member and opposingleg members 24 and 25, the bow member being designated as 24a. Thisrein-clip is atcached by one of its leg members-the member 24, forexample-to the upper or front surface of the main member23 of thebrakelever or separate construction and extends beyond both sides of thesaid member 23 of the brake-lever, as is best shown in Fig. 4.

A cam-lever 26, which is fulcrumed upon the upper member 23 of thebrake-lever E, engages with the free leg 25 of the rein-clip and isadapted to force the said free leg 25 in direction of the fixed leg 24,and thus se- IOC curely clamp the reins or lines between the saidymembers. The fixed member 24 of the rein-clip is provided with aprojection 27 of staple form, as is also shown in Fig. 4. The attachmentto a brake supported and operated as described or to a similar brakeconsists in a strap, chain, or the like 28, which is secured to theybrake bar or beam l0, the forward end of the strap 28 being at the rearportion of the said brake beam or bar, and the other end ofr this strap28 is attached to the rear portion of the body or running-gear of thevehicle. A second strap 29, chain, or the like is likewise attached tothe brake bar or beam l0; but the attachment is made in an oppositedirection to the attachment of the rear strap 28, and this second strap29 is carried forward and is secured at its forward f end to the staple27 of the rein-clip D, as is best shown in Fig. 3.

When the brake is on, the member l23 of the level' E or otherconstruction for carry- 'ing the rein-clip D is in a vertical position,and when a person leaves the vehicle the reins are passed between themembers of the clip D and are. held in place by the action of thecam-lever 26. left somewhat slack, and should the horse attempt to drawthe vehicle forward the strap 29,attached to the clip and brake-beam,will be wound upon the latter, and the clip and member 23 of thebrake-lever or other construction for carrying the rein-clipD will bedrawn rearward, and the slack of the reins will be taken up and theanimal will be checked, the brake remaining on. When the animal stepsback, the strap 29 is unwound and the strap 28 is wound upon thebrakebeam, thus preserving the rollers in position against the wheels ofthe vehicle or the hub.

of the wheels, if attached to the ruiminggear, but permitting the animalto have sufcient freedom for comfort.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A brake bar or beam for vehicles, a supporttherefor, and a lever in operative connection with the brake bar orbeam, a strap or chain attached to the brake beam or bar and to the rearportion of the support there-v for, a second strap attached to the brakebeam or bar in an opposite direction, and a rein-holder to which thesecond strap is attached.

The reins are purposely 2. ln vehicles, a body, a brake beam or barhaving brake-shoes or rollers, a shifting device for the brake beam orbar, in which device the beam or bar is free to turn, a lever connectedwith the shifting device, a strap or chain attached to the brake-bar,and wound thereon in a rearward direction and secured to the rearportion of the vehicle body or gear,

f beam or bar is free to turn, ahrake-levercounected with the shiftingdevice, and a reinclamp carried byl said lever, ofa strap or chainattached to the brake bar or beam and wound thereon in a rearwarddirection, the said strapr or chain having attachment to the rearportion of the body or gear of the vehicle, and a Asecond strap or chainlikewise attached to the brake beam or bar, and wound thereon in aforward direction, the said strap or chain being attached to therein-clamp, for the purpose set forth.

4. In brakes for vehicles, a brake beam or bar mounted'to revolve,supports and shifting devices for the brake beam or bar, and a leverconnected with the shifting devices, having a pivoted member capable ofa horizontal rearward projection, a rein-clamp secured to the pivotedmember of the lever, which rein-clamp is of fork-like construction,having one leg free and the otherattached, a cam-lever arranged forengagement with the free end of the clamp, a strap or chain attached tothe brake-beam and wound thereon in a rearward direction and adapted forattachment also to a rear support, and a second strap or chain attachedto the brake beam or bar and wound thereon in a forward direction, andmeans for attaching the latter strap to the fixed member of therein-clamp, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciication in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES KITCHIN.

Witnesses:

NELSON WILLIAMS, HARRY M. BROWN.

